Protesters demonstrate against GOP tax bill in Evesham

David Levinsky @davidlevinsky

Monday

Dec 4, 2017 at 6:59 PMDec 4, 2017 at 7:04 PM

The tax rewrite cleared arguably its steepest hurdle over the weekend when the U.S. Senate voted to approve its version of the overhaul legislation. Since the House has approved a separate bill, the legislation now moves to a conference of lawmakers from both chambers to negotiate a compromise measure, with the goal of having a reconciled bill ready for both houses to vote on before the holiday break.

Opponents of the Republican tax overhaul held demonstrations at GOP congressional offices across New Jersey on Monday, as part of a last-ditch effort to try to derail the legislation before it reaches President Donald Trump’s desk.

Gov.-elect Phil Murphy also teamed with the Democratic governors of California and New York to call for the bill's defeat.

They have their work cut out for them. The tax rewrite cleared arguably its steepest hurdle over the weekend when the Senate voted to approve its version. Since the House already approved a separate bill, the legislation now moves to a conference of lawmakers from both chambers to negotiate a compromise, with the goal of having a reconciled bill ready to vote on before the holiday break.

The stakes are high, as the Republicans are pushing to complete the first major tax revamp in three decades and give Trump the first major legislative victory of his rocky first year in office.

That alone was enough of an incentive for many protesters to show up Monday afternoon outside Congressman Tom MacArthur’s constituent services office in Evesham to voice their outrage. Others there cited MacArthur’s status as the lone member of New Jersey’s congressional delegation to vote in support of the tax measure.

“We think it’s bad for New Jersey, and (MacArthur) is the only one who voted for it,” said Peter Bilazarian, a Mount Laurel doctor who was among over 50 protesters who lined East Main Street outside MacArthur’s office.

The group chanted “Kill the bill” and waved signs declaring “Tax Scam Revolt” and “Trickle Down Is a Trick” as part of the statewide demonstrations organized by the liberal group Action Together New Jersey.

Bilazarian and several other protesters have been regulars at the almost weekly demonstrations outside MacArthur’s Burlington County office. The protests began shortly after Trump’s inauguration and have largely focused on the Republicans’ failed effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which MacArthur played a key role in advancing from the House.

The second-term congressman has also been deeply involved in the tax bill negotiations, and is credited with helping to negotiate the preservation of the property tax deduction in the House bill, albeit with a $10,000 cap.

MacArthur has argued that most of the constituents in his district, which is divided between Burlington County and a large part of neighboring Ocean County, would fall under the cap and would also benefit from other provisions of the bill, including the proposed reduced rates, an enhanced child tax credit, and the elimination of the alternative minimum tax.

“Look at the rates coming down. Look at the doubling of the standard deduction, the increase in the child tax credit, the addition of a new credit if you’re taking care of an elderly parent. Look at all of it,” MacArthur said during a weekend interview on Fox Business. “This is a good bill for New Jersey. All this noise is just politics as usual around here.”

The Washington Post examined MacArthur's claims in a fact-check article published Monday. Its analysis found that the $10,000 cap would cover about 93 percent of his constituents but that even those who can still claim the deduction might face higher taxes because of the combined impact from the loss of other deductions.

Bilazarian said he is among those who would face higher taxes. He said that his property tax bill is over $10,000 and that the overhaul measure could leave him with a higher burden.

“My taxes will go up, mainly because of the loss of exemptions and the loss of deductions,” he said.

Several of the protesters came from Mercer and Camden counties, which are outside the district, to try to pressure MacArthur into reversing his vote when the House considers the final version of the bill.

“We’ve adopted the red districts,” Andy Bromberg, of West Windsor, said at the protest. “We felt it was important to come down here.”

Bromberg's criticism of the bill was similar to how others felt, that the legislation would reduce the taxes of large corporations and wealthy people at the expense of middle-income families and the working class.

“Even the millionaires and billionaires don’t all agree. Decent rich people don’t want this tax bill,” he said.

“The 1 percent is getting the tax break and they don’t need it. They don’t put money back into the economy,” said Aleta Payne, of Willingboro.

Evesham Democrat Andy Kim, who is the favorite to challenge MacArthur during next year’s midterm elections, also showed up at the protest. He told the crowd he plans to be “a relentless champion” for their causes.

“The only way we’re going to take control of our government to be able to get us on a better path is to flip this district next year and flip the House next year,” Kim said.

Murphy, who has become one of the most outspoken opponents of the legislation since his election, continued his criticism of the tax bill during a Monday afternoon conference call with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and California Gov. Jerry Brown. He urged residents to continue to pressure the state’s five Republican representatives.

“It’s not over yet. We may be in the ninth inning, but each of our states has Republican representatives,” Murphy said. “They need to answer: 'Are you representing your constituents or are you in with Trump and Republican leadership?' "

The three Democrats also suggested that they might pursue legal action if the bill is approved and signed into law by Trump.

“The (state and local taxes deduction) has been part of the tax code since the income tax became legal in 1913,” Murphy said. “I’m not a lawyer, but I’m betting there are holes and flaws in this.”

Cuomo said his state would also research litigation.

“This is double taxation, and I’m not sure it’s legal,” he said. “They’re taxing taxes. That’s what they’re doing. This from the party that says it’s against taxes.”

MacArthur previously challenged Murphy to join him in a town hall discussion about tax reform. On Monday, he called on Murphy to focus on reducing New Jersey's taxes rather than criticizing the federal effort.

"If Phil Murphy is so concerned about higher taxes in New Jersey, then why is he planning to raise them? Perhaps Phil Murphy should get his ducks in a row in Trenton, where legislative leaders are already questioning his disastrous fiscal policies, before he attacks a bill that reduces tax rates, doubles the standard deduction, provides tax credits for child care and care of adult dependents, and preserves the property tax deduction," MacArthur said. "The reality is simple: The bill I voted for will cut taxes, while Phil Murphy wants to raise them."

Another New Jersey Republican lawmaker also fired back Monday that critics of the proposed $10,000 cap on the federal property tax deduction should consider eliminating the state’s identical cap on its property tax deduction.

“Rather than simply criticizing officials in Washington, Gov.-elect Murphy should see this as an opportunity to work with lawmakers in Trenton to fix something that we have the power to fix to make New Jersey more affordable,” Sen. Joe Pennacchio, R-26th of Montville, said in a statement. “If we’re going to say that having no limit for property tax deductions is the right policy, then let’s change our New Jersey laws to match our rhetoric.”

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